Rogues Angels Present: In This Life Terri Herman-Ponce

Please welcome Terri Herman-Ponce author of In This Life.

Terri will be awarding a digital copy of IN THIS LIFE (Book 1 of the Past Life Series) to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

In This Life, Book 1 in the Past Life Series

by Terri Herman-Ponce

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1.    What elements are necessary components for this genre.
You know, this is a question I’ve thought about for my other books, too. In This Life is suspense, with paranormal (some might call it metaphysical) elements mixed in with mystery. And I think there are certain things certain genres have to have. Like, suspense relies on conflict or fear or anxiety…tension that ramps up page by page. Something that makes you bite your nails. And mystery involves a puzzle that has to be solved. And paranormal? I dunno. Sometimes I think there’s some latitude there as far as what’s considered otherworldly. But in the end, I think the author has to deliver no matter what the genre. Do that, and you’ve got readers for life. (and I hope to make some today!)

2.    What expertise did you bring to your writing?
Expertise? Oh man, I’m grinning here because the truth is kind of funny. I took AP English in high school, which was a great experience, but I’d never really been interested in English. Or writing. Or anything where I had to put words on a page. At least, until I became interested in Star Trek: The Next Generation. That’s when I had this overwhelming desire to write about the characters I loved in my own way, and when I discovered the world of fanfiction. And that’s where I met my best friend/beta reader who inspired me to write mainstream, and that’s what launched my writing career today. I’ve been writing for, oh, about eighteen years now. And, yikes! Has it really been that long? Wow. So I guess you could say that Star Trek was the expertise I brought to my writing. How’s that for an answer?!

3.    What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
I’ve been asked this in other interviews. And my mood of the day determines my answer. J So here it goes. I’ve got a phobia about very long escalators. I’m not afraid of heights, but long elevators? No. No. And NO. I know there are people behind me when I ride one, but I still feel scared that I’ll tumble backward and all the way down!

4.    As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I lovelovelove writing the Past Life Series, so my goal is to keep writing it because the stories (and the characters) keep filling my head. I see so many possibilities with this series. Suspense. Mystery. Passion. Paranormal. At some point I’ll branch out into something standalone related, but not yet. I’m having too much fun with the mystery of reincarnation and the concept of second chances to stop.

5.    If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?
None of them. Can you believe it? Seriously, I’ve got a major lustfest going with David Bellotti, the male lead. I mean, he’s total sexy yum to me. But to be him or one of the characters? Nope. To me, they’re as individual as I am.

6.    Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
Actually, no. My best friend, who I met online through a Star Trek fanfiction group, also became my beta reader when I started writing fanfiction. And she’s the best thing that ever happened to me personally and to my writing. I trust her implicitly and, to tell you the truth, she’s tough on me! But in a good way. However, I’ve also got a developmental editor tucked away in my back pocket. You know, just to make sure…

7.    What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
The best advice? 1—write what you’re passionate about. 2—it’s not necessary to follow every writing rule. 3—except for the important ones. J
The worst advice? Hmm. It’s not so much the worst advice as it is too much advice. It seems like everyone has thoughts on how a writer should write. Like writing the whole draft first before you edit. Or outlining first. Or having to get the first chapter perfect before you move on. But, over time I’ve learned that I have to write the way that works best for me.

8.    Do you outline your books or just start writing?
Wow. This question so totally fits in with the previous one! I can’t outline. Ever. I have a general sense of what a chapter or scene needs to be, but that’s about it. I write like a reader the first time around, but I edit as I do. I know sort of what the story is about, and have an idea of how it’ll end, but I have zero idea how I’m going to get there. And that’s what totally jazzes me when I write. I never know where it’s going to go. And nine times out of ten, I’ll hear a song that’ll spark an image or dialogue, and snap! I’ve got my scene bursting to be written. This happens most often with my character David. (Yeah, I know In This Life is written in Lottie’s point of view, but David took over right after I typed The End.) Anyway, because his voice is so strong, and because I love (lust for!) him so much, the scenes with him are usually the easiest to write. Oh, they still have to be edited, but they’re the ones that usually flow right out of my head and through my fingertips and onto the page.

9.    How do you maintain your creativity?
Believe it or not, I play games on my iPhone (can anyone say Candy Crush addict?). I also love doing Brain Games (check out their website and TV show on NatGeo—it’s the best), because it helps me find ways of using a different part of my brain. I need to engage in something that has nothing to do with writing. And when I do, it feels like I’m giving the creative part of me a rest. Kind of like putting my right brain’s feet up on the coffee table and taking a nap. When the ‘nap’ is over, I pick up my writing again.

10. Are your plotting bunnies angels or demons?
Guess what! I have no idea what a plotting bunny is! So I’m gonna Google it…hold on please…ohhhhh. So THAT’S a plotting bunny! Oh yeah. I have story ideas that spark to life in my head and don’t let go very often. And, to me? Absolute angels! David and Lottie, for example, are major plot bunnies because I envision them in so many scenarios and situations, many of which never make it to the page. But, and this is a big but (that sounded funny, didn’t it?), when I have a David/Lottie scene in my head that fits a story, I absolutely positively have to run with it. I mean, they’re my life. So, yeah. Angels. All the way. It’s what keeps my writing motivated and moving.

Anything else you might want to add?
You guys have been great, so THANK YOU for this wonderful opportunity to talk a little about myself and about In This Life. I hope your visitors found my interview entertaining because I sure had fun.

   

Hidden memories. Buried secrets. Resurrected revenge.

   

Psychologist Lottie Morgan knows something is wrong when she relives memories of a lover she's never had. At first she attributes them to fever-induced dreams. But when the fever disappears and the visions don’t, Lottie realizes something else is going on.

   

Then she meets Galen. Their first encounter is as intense as it is eye-opening, and his revelation that they shared a passionate relationship thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt entices Lottie into wanting to learn more about her past. Her decision, however, comes at a price. Galen may hold the answers but he could destroy the devoted, lifelong relationship Lottie has with her current lover, David.

It also could mean her death—again.

   

Someone is protecting millennia-old secrets, determined to keep them buried while exacting a revenge on Lottie for a mistake made a very long time ago. A mistake she could be destined to repeat.

   

Take a trip to mysterious ancient Egypt, where Lottie becomes caught between two lifetimes, two men, and long-buried deceptions. Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Macavity-winning author, calls this paranormal suspense "Inventive, original and thought-provoking; this mystically romantic mystery will instantly intrigue."

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The restlessness I’d been feeling surged through me again, stronger this time, and I didn’t like the way it felt. Something seemed off, and I wasn’t sure if it was with David or with me. Remnants of last night’s sleep started trickling in, and then a connection clicked into place.

“I had a dream last night and I started remembering it in the bathroom.” I closed my eyes, trying to remember more. “I was in a room with a servant who was waiting on me. She was preparing me to meet someone. A boyfriend.” No, that wasn’t quite right. “A lover.”

I felt a tingling uneasiness as I said the word.

“A lover?” David asked.

I opened my eyes, saw David’s grin and recognized the bait for what it was.

I grinned back. “The lover wasn’t you.”

His grin widened and then faded away. “That still doesn’t explain your behavior in the bathroom. You looked like a statue.”

“I’m tired, David,” I said, sliding down under the covers. “ The human mind is capable of doing unusual things when a person is under stress, like when they’re sick, and the gods only know I’ve been feeling a lot of that these past few days. Forget about it. It’s not a worry.”

David paused. “Is that your professional assessment?”

“Yes.”

It looked like David wanted to say more but he got up and walked to the windows that overlooked the backyard instead. I wasn’t sure what was going through his mind but I knew him well enough to know not to pry. It always backfired whenever I did. So I let him have his moment, toyed with the toast, and then passed on it in favor of some tea. My cell phone rang as soon as I put the mug on the nightstand, and I answered it on the second ring.

“Tough night’s sleep, Lottie?” The voice on the other end was male and one I didn’t recognize. “You shouldn’t tell your boyfriend about your other lovers. Especially those you dream about.”

“Who is this?” I asked.

“I’m disappointed you don’t recognize me.” He laughed, the sound crawling over my skin like a snake over sand. “I’m the man you dreamed about last night.”

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Terri looks for any opportunity to make stuff up. She thinks anything that can’t so easily be explained is worth an extra look and often makes a great story. She loves red wine, scotch, sunrises, Ancient Egypt, the beach—and a host of other stuff that would take too much real estate to talk about. The youngest of five children, Terri lives with her husband and son on Long Island. And, in her next life, if she hasn’t moved on to somewhere else, she wants to be an astronomer. Terri’s fascinated with the night skies almost as much as she’s fascinated with ancient Egypt.

Terri is a member of member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, and you can read about her at http://terriponce.com/.

If you love social media, you can also find Terri on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Terri.Ponce.Author and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TerriPonce. Come visit. She’d love to hear from you!

Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Terri-Herman-Ponc%C3%A9/e/B009FMZV3K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1394838446&sr=1-1